The other day on a shooting, we played with the model’s jean shorts. They’re the same in both pictures.
On the left, very low on her waist for a tomboy look, and on the right, with a belt, super high and extra sexy.

It’s so instructive that these are the same shorts, which you might not guess right away. Makes me wonder what I already have in my closet that could be transformed by wearing it a bit higher or lower on the hips…

I like both, the sexy way is really good if you have a good figure for it… I love the high waist. If you’re still in your twenties it’s even better, but sometimes I think it’s a little to much if it’s to short. The left one is just cook, fun and comfortable. I’m for the sexy one, but as I said, I think you need quite a perfect skin and shape for it.

DEFINITELY the left one. i really hate it when you can see the bottom of the bum. if the shorts were a tad longer (and maybe looser) i would like them high-waisted as well. i wear a lot of my shorts/pants both ways depending on how i feel, it’s a nice way to get completely different looks from the same piece!

After reading a lot of the the comments above, I see it is revealing some profound issues about body image and the politics of the woman’s body. Very interesting topic. I hope some sociologist is reading all of these and is taking notes ! I sure am, in my own way.

On a personal level, I am on the tomboy side all the way. I feel the sexy one is a little too indecent for the city. At least I, for myself, never could have pulled it off on the streets, even in my twenties, with a perfect bum and all. Too reserved I am. Gone days anyway.That beeing said, I will proudly wear it on the beach, no complex at all. At 32, my bum and thighs are for the first time, let’s say, altered by age and motherhood… I will make sure not to let this stop me from wearing the shortest shorts on the beach proudly (mental challenge, for sure) !

On the model: high waist, sexy style. For real life, myself: neither. I don’t find shorts to be flattering (and also, who wants to run around looking like a slouch or your booty hanging out in the city?? Besides models??) But in a dream world, where we all have model bodies, and don’t run into our professional acquaintances on the street when we are “off duty”: high waist, sexy style :)

High and tight! Denim shorts ONLY look good on women when they are tight. I know that fashion is controlled by gay men but seriously, women should look feminine and sexy and the left look is not good. It’s not ‘cool’ either, it’s just hobo. Misunderstood.

I am inclined to agree with you marie that women should look feminine. Afterall it is one of our ‘super-powers’ :)

but i do think the left look leaves more to the imagination (and its more of a personal taste)

. Also when you come from overly-macho cultures like I do, wearing something like that would guarantee that I would get followed down the street, possibly all the way home. And if anything bad should happen , EVERYONE will basically tell you that you were ‘cruisin for a bruisin’….Extremely sad but very true.

There can be something alluring in the reveal of curve and skin, but (way) too often with short shorts it is with the effect of a side show. Version #2 is frequently afflicted with this outcome – revealing (especially in the unforgiving day light) rippling cellulite and jiggling slabs of saggy butt cheek that pull attention away from other things.

Personally, I would prefer to look comfortably at the comfortable face of someone in version #1, instead of wincing at the imminent possibility of wedgie in version #2, while unable to meet the eyes of the victim.

AND another thing: version #2 frequently involves the physical action of yanking at the shorts, to keep them in place. That doesn’t look great either.

Yes, there are people who can pull off version #2 effortlessly, but *sigh* either way, they are still denim cut offs, and at least here in Toronto, these are as prolific as pigeons and about as exciting… but not all fashion has to be exciting, or unexpected! I just find other options more imaginative to see and to wear.

I’d pick “That”, with a little cheeky cheek showing. I know it’s not what my mother would want, but its sexier, and id rather show a little somethin than have absolutely no ass at all. No ass=no fun. But of course, go with the mood youre in. xoxo

only the left one. the tomboy sexyness is the one of today. the right one is in my sense simply outdated.
The left one would look also super sexy if you pair it with heels, sandals or just cool smokey eyes…

Garance, this is hysterical to me! TOMBOY for sure, I don’t even have to think about it.

The two pictures also say a lot about the person wearing them. Cheeks hanging out is totally ridiculous even if the body is fab enough to pull it off. Why does anyone need that kind of attention from people on the street? The cheekies are a little desperate, no?

Hell, if I had that nice tushie and those stems, I’d run around in a thong, shorts be damned! That said, I too am in favor of Le gauche, the tomboy version. Much sexier, in my humble opinion, as something so overt as a hint of butt cheekiness just smacks of trying too hard. Love to hear some guys weigh in with their preference.

For real life? Definitely the tomboy look. I’d wear it with a fitted tank, a loose summer braid, some awesome sandals and a bright red pedi. I’d keep the rest of the look feminine to balance out the boyish bottom.

The appearance of the cheeks is what make #2 a no-no for me. If the cheeks were covered by another inch or two, I cold totally admire look #2 on a 20 year old with a runway model body on the shores of Ibiza. Seeing that I’m well past 20, I would not try to pull off that look on myself. I shudder to think.

I think is depend of your confidence and style…. I love both… but I feel much better in my own with a tomboy style… well also it’s depend where you are… Miami, Bahamas, Ibiza… or Paris, NYC, Germany ….
Cool post Garance… always trending and interesting!
Kisses
Angeleshttp://www.angelesalmuna.com

It depends on the day and the occasion. For now I can still get away with the “sexy” version, though mine wouldn’t show quite so much cheek, just fit the curves more tightly. The tomboy look is classy and can be dressed up nicely.

Usually I really like a nice high-waisted short shorts but I definitely draw the line at the butt dimple. Shorts that are so short that they show the beginning of your butt cheeks are trashy, not sexy.

I realize I’m probably going to be alone in this but I don’t think the extra sexy one is necessarily restricted to people with flat butts. In fact I don’t this the extra sexy version look that good on the model because she has such a flat butt, even though she does have great legs.

I’m not a short shorts fan, but if I had to choose: Tomboy version. Isn’t the right version kind of gross? Esp. when it’s very hot and you sweat…and you have to take the cab or even the subway. Ew…just ew. Imagine sitting with your naked butt on these fake leathery seats…and when you move up you kinda stick on the seat. And then think about all those people who sat there before you or after you. No thanks. To me it looks cheap and very often you can not only see the butt cheeks, but also a cameltoe…which is even more disgusting.

I enjoy both looks but I would have loved to have seen these two looks on one model (it seems to be two different women). Therefore, demonstrating the versatility of the levi short or highlighting the differing looks on a boyish figure versus a more women-ly figure. As it is, both looks are appropriate for their chosen body types. That said, my body type leans more toward model #2 and I celebrate the little rounds that peek outside the short.

I agree with a lot of the other comments; showing off your butt just looks trashy, no matter how fit you are. If you’re attractive, everyone can see that you’re attractive. The one on the right just looks like you have low self-esteem or are desperate for attention. A truly confident, sexy woman doesn’t need anyone to tell her she’s sexy; she would wear the one on the left because she knows she’s hot stuff and doesn’t need to put everything on display. Also, shorts where your butt hangs out are everywhere these days, and it seems that when something is everywhere, you don’t look very unique or fashion-forward wearing it.

Number one hands down. I feel as though it is a classier look. The second look, in my opinion is ok for a
music festival for example with a long shirt. Also I think whether you are “thin” or have more curves to your shape the tomboy version is the way to go.

The tomboy version just looks scruffy and even very juvenile…it’s an Orphan Annie look literally for very young tomboy girls !
The look on the right is more womanly and definitely if worn with flats and a demure blouse can look quite charming and vintage 1940’s style rather than overtly sexy. It has way more potential to be flattering and if just worn slightly lower need not be too revealing. Just as a lot of you recommend sexing up the tomboy look, I vote for toning down the sexy look !
Not many, if at all any men , are going to prefer the look on the left because in my opinion only a minority of women on this planet are so gorgeous that they can still look hot dressed deliberately unattractively.

I want to wear it this AND that ! it depends on my mood in the moment and also where I am going. If I want to be relaxed and carefree and don’t want any attention, I wear the “left” way, if I feel sexy on that day and want to play a little, then I wear it the “right” way. When it comes to what to wear and how to wear, I am the boss :)

I don’t want to see anyone’s ass when I am walking down the street, even if its Giselle’s, sorry! TOMBOY all the way. Creating a really great shape with clothes while leaving something to the imagine is ALWAYS sexier. Always. Put that ass away girl! Leave that for la plage.

It’s funny reading some comments, saying that women should be feminine and sexy all the time. There are so many of us and we’re all so different. It’s about choice and can vary from one day to the next. That’s why both versions work! But today, I’m diggin’ the loose shorts look.

I’m a big fan of the tomboy – but personally, on a skinny model, both look fantastic. I think we all need to understand that unless you take great pride in caring for your butt, you probably shouldn’t go waving it in people’s faces.

There is an old hip-hop song “The Choice is Yours” by Black Sheep. The chorus goes “You can get with This or you can get with That.” This is the cool choice, That is wack. I think the same applies here. Though the short shorts are cool for a fashion editorial or the beach in reality walking around, not so much. The tomboy shorts to me are timeless, elegant and sexy. I prefer This.

I’m definitely more of a fan of the high-waisted, shorter version, as long as there isn’t too much buttcheek exposed- I think the tomboy look only really looks flattering with a pair of heels and as an already tall girl that isn’t really an everyday look for me, but would definitely work on loads of other women!

NEITHER! I’ve been seeing both these looks since ’07 on the streets of NYC and London and I keep wishing that both would go away. I read a great description of them somewhere and the writer described them as an unfortunate “wall of denim.”

Once I saw a girl with #2 on the subway. When she got up, her tampon string was dangling from the back of her left leg.

I think a great pair of shorts that are tailored and made with an elegant fabric are much more flattering. (Cocktail shorts!) Try looking for a pair with a very slight drop crotch, wide legs, and pleating/darts in the front! Pair them with a boxy top or a slim black boatneck 3/4 length jersey top. And don’t forget a belt!

I’m so suprised how many of you is for tomboy! I loooove the second one! feminin doesn’t mean trashy! if a girl wears a shortsII, casual t-shirt and no make it looks way more classy than the first clumsy one.
Or maybe it’s my thing, I don’t have superskinny legs but rather a very ‘feminine’ body so in tomboy I don’t look too good…

Number 1 for sure, for real life. Number two looks great in a fashion shoot, but in real life I see too many overweight teenagers wearing this look- and it just makes me sad. The shorts are not actually the problem though I guess. On a fit toned body ( like the models) they would look great.

longer version. I don’t say the model looks bad with the “right” version but I would feel naked in them. And I don’t like to sit on something with my bare skin (esp. when it’s hot and I “stick” to the surface) ;-)

When I first saw the image on my reader I was 100% sure you are raising up a weigh issue, I was a bit disappointed you didn’t in a way because the picture on the left doesn’t visually help the viewer (at least myself) to imagine a healthy woman wearing the jeans in a boyfriend loose style, which I’d wear and prefer anyway. In this case I much prefer the right image, she looks healthy and sexy, bold and daring!